Spider Silk as Guiding Biomaterial for Human Model Neurons
Figure 3
Human model neurons aggregating on the spider silk over culture time. (a) Detailed view of an image used to quantify the rate of aggregation of neurons. Three stripes parallel to a spider silk fiber were evaluated by measuring the area covered with DAPI staining, representative of the amount of neuronal nuclei. (b) Within 24 hours after seeding neurons to crossed fiber arrays, no significant difference in DAPI covered area between the stripes could be detected. After 36 hours significantly more neuronal nuclei could be seen in the stripe covering the silk fiber than in the adjacent stripe, or the most distant stripe to the silk. After 3-4 weeks in culture the difference between the stripe covering the silk and the outer stripes is highly significant (). Data are presented as mean and SEM. Significance levels are and using one-way ANOVA and Bonferroni post hoc test. Nuclei of neurons are stained with DAPI (cyan). Scale bar is 20 μm.
